Chapter 892 Clues
After explaining to the three people how to organize the account books and seeing that they had gotten the hang of it, County Magistrate Tang and County Magistrate Yang took a pot of tea and sat down by the window. They opened the window and looked out at the yard.
Lanterns were lit in the yard, and the hazy red light shone in the yard, giving a warm feeling.
Zhou Silang was playing cards in the yard with Wantian, Mingli and Daji, and there was no other servants around.
County Magistrate Tang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's better here. You don't have to worry about hearing anything you say."
"Sister-in-law has always been strict in managing the inner house. Isn't it safe at home?"
County Magistrate Tang shook his head and sighed, "Huayang County is different from Luojiang County. I've been feeling a bit strange lately. Or maybe I'm overthinking this case. This year, the Yizhou Palace held seven spring banquets, all of which were for spring outings, entertaining talented people from all over Shu. Lord Zhang was invited to almost every one of them."
Yang Heshu also sat up a little straighter and asked, "Isn't it held in the palace?"
County Magistrate Tang shook his head. "No, there were no women. It was called a spring outing banquet, but it was more like a talent selection banquet. Everyone was reciting poems and discussing Taoism. You know, Lord Zhang enjoys elegant conversation. I've been there twice, and they do a great job."
Yang Heshu was silent for a moment, then said, "This time when I returned to the capital, Your Majesty," he lowered his voice and said, "The relationship between Your Majesty and the Crown Prince has become increasingly tense. My father said that Your Majesty even threatened to depose the Crown Prince during a court meeting."
Magistrate Tang held his forehead with a headache and asked, "The prince still has no children?"
Yang Heshu shook his head.
The two fell silent. Could this be the reason why the King of Yizhou has been so active recently?
County Magistrate Tang turned his head to glance at the three children who were busy working and said, "Let them sort it out. We will make a copy for ourselves and keep it. We will send the original back to the capital."
Yang Heshu asked, "Who is it for?"
County Magistrate Tang pondered for a moment and finally said, "Give it to my father."
Yang Heshu nodded. "I have met with Lord Wei. If this matter is true, he will not ignore it. But my father..."
County Magistrate Tang knew that Lord Yang was a slippery person and would probably not be happy to get involved in this mess. He smiled and patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry. If you are in the water, how can Uncle Yang stay out of it?"
Yang Heshu is the only legitimate son in the family and the best one. Lord Yang would not be willing to let him go.
County Magistrate Tang smiled at the thought. Yang Heshu glanced at him, patted his hand, and said, "When are you going to send your sister-in-law and nephew away? You can't just leave them in Yizhou City, can you?"
County Magistrate Tang said with a headache, "We need to find an excuse that won't attract attention."
Although he was only a small county magistrate, his family background was there, and whenever there was any event in Yizhou City, his family would be considered for help. Therefore, if his family members suddenly left, it would really arouse suspicion unless there was a reasonable excuse.
County Magistrate Yang thought for a moment and said, "How about I have Cui send an invitation to my sister-in-law and nephew to stay at my house for a while, and then you can send a letter from the capital to bring them back?"
County Magistrate Tang: "Attending to the sick? But my father is fine."
County Magistrate Yang coughed lightly and asked, "Where is your mother-in-law?"
County Magistrate Tang thought about it seriously and although he felt it wasn't a good idea, he nodded and said, "I'll go back and discuss it with her."
The two of them whispered about how to investigate the case next. They had the things from twelve years ago, but what about the things from twelve years later?
Judging from the account books they just flipped through, the King of Yizhou had already raised a lot of private soldiers twelve years ago and started to privately mine and cast weapons. Twelve years have passed. How many soldiers do he have now? Where are those soldiers and weapons?
Has he given up on rebellion, or is he biding his time?
These need to be checked.
By the time they had discussed all this, the three o'clock bell had already rung outside. Zhou Silang and the others had already moved from the yard to the side room, and were sitting on the doorstep, watching over the stove, and were drowsy.
In the main courtyard, Cui did not go to bed either, but was waiting for Yang Heshu.
Hong Xue handed the lamp in her hand to the servant and came in and whispered, "The light in the study is still on. Master Bai and Miss Man haven't come out yet. They seem to be busy. Madam, why don't you take a rest first?"
Cui was very curious, "What are they busy with?"
Hong Xue shook her head. "But I heard that Master Shan is now a second-level student at the prefectural academy. They were called back by the master this time to handle official business. It must be official business."
Cui, however, knew something about government affairs. She shook her head and said, "It's not military service time, and there's nothing urgent. Why would we need to call a few students back to help?"
"But I think the master may not come back tonight. He might even be resting in the study. Madam, you should go to bed first. Get up early tomorrow and go check on him. Otherwise, just ask Miss Man quietly."
Cui could only nod.
The third watch struck three o'clock outside. Magistrate Yang glanced at the three people who were already yawning and said, "Alright, let's stop here for tonight and come back tomorrow morning."
Manbao didn't force it. He put down his pen and stood up. He glanced at the things on the table and asked, "What should I do with the things?"
"Let's just leave it like this." Yang Heshu was a mysophobe. The servants in the mansion, especially those near the study, were people he absolutely trusted, so he said, "Wantian and Mingli are watching over them, so there's nothing to worry about."
County Magistrate Tang invited Yang Heshu to "talk by candlelight at night."
Yang Heshu nodded, "Okay, I just happen to have something to tell you."
What I want to say is the most confidential matter, and it is not suitable to be said in front of three children.
Manbao and Baishan Baijilang said goodbye.
Zhou Silang yawned as he followed Daji. Seeing that Daji didn't seem sleepy at all, he couldn't help but mutter, "How do you not feel sleepy?"
Daji smiled and said nothing.
Back at their guest house, Manbao was about to go into his room, and Bai Shan followed closely behind. Bai Erlang, seeing this, squeezed in as well. Zhou Silang, who was about to turn around and go back to his room to sleep, immediately squeezed in as well, staring at Bai Shan and Bai Erlang warily. "Why are you running into my sister's room so late at night instead of sleeping?"
Bai Erlang looked at Bai Shan and asked, "Why are you not sleeping at this hour? What are you trying to tell her?"
Bai Shan: ...
He thought about it, turned around and was about to go out.
Bai Erlang grabbed him and said, "You have nothing to say, right? I do. I heard what Magistrate Yang and the others said just now. So there's so much going on here. It turns out the King of Yizhou not only embezzled the money from the river workers, but he's also rebelling. Why are you hiding this from me?"
Manbao asked him curiously, "Aren't you afraid?"
Bai Erlang looked puzzled. "What am I afraid of? It's not like I want to rebel."
He stared at the two of them and asked, "Tell me, besides this, is there anything else you're hiding from me?"
Even the biggest secret of the rebellion was known to him, so it seemed that there was nothing else to hide from him. Manbao said, "There's nothing else, except for one thing: I'm not my father and mother's daughter..."
Bai Erlang's face was filled with horror. He then stared at Bai Shan and exclaimed, "No way, you two are brother and sister? Aren't you going to get engaged?"
Zhou Silang, who was standing by, jumped up and down, asking, "Who's getting engaged? Who's getting engaged? Explain yourself, Master Shan. Did you say anything to Manbao behind my back?"
Bye, see you tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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